Roadkill (1989)

Director:

Bruce McDonald

Writers:

Bruce McDonald (story)
Don McKellar (writer)

Release Date:

9 August 1990 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

If you want to drive, you have to kill

Plot:

This is an early film by Bruce McDonald filmed on a tiny budget over a few weeks traveling the wilds in Canada...

Plot Keywords:

Road | Cult Favorite | French Revolution | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Valerie Buhagiar	...	Ramona
Gerry Quigley	...	Roy Seth, the Promoter
Larry Hudson	...	Buddy, the Cab Driver
Bruce McDonald	...	Bruce Shack, the Director
Shaun Bowring	...	Mathew, the Weenie-Boy
Don McKellar	...	Russel, the Serial Killer
Mark Tarantino	...	Luke, the 15-Year Old Boy
Jamie Rooney	...	Nature Film Narrator
Peter Morfea	...	Jesus of Toronto
Patricia Sims	...	Corporate Babe
Nazareno Buhagiar	...	Ramona's Father
Giovanna Buhagiar	...	Ramona's Mother
Glen McLaren	...	Gas Station Attendant
Ellen Dean	...	Waitress
Earl Pastko	...	Children of Paradise drums

Also Known As:

Roadkill: Move or Die

Runtime:

80 min | Canada:85 min (Ontario)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-8 | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Ontario, Canada

Company:

Mr. Shack Motion Pictures

Quotes:

Ramona: Russel, are you really a serial killer?
Russel: Well, I've never really killed anyone before, but that's what I'm shooting for. That's my ambition. I know it's a hard profession, and it's a competive field and getting tougher every year. You have to kill about 20 people now before you're taken seriously, But let's face it, what other options do I have? There's not a lot of opportunities up here for social mobility. I mean you can either become a hockey player or take up a life of crime. And I have weak ankles, so there you go.

Movie Connections:

References Doctor Dolittle (1967)

Soundtrack:

It's Saturday Night

A true classic of Canadian cinema

Ramona is sent to recover a rock band (Children of Paradise) which is in danger of missing its final tour date, and on her surreal and absurd trip meets several strange characters, most memorably a frustrated wannabe serial killer who is struggling to get his career off the ground, and who claims to have been driven to his choice by necessity ("what other options do I have? There's not a lot of opportunities up here for social mobility. I mean you can either become a hockey player or take up a life of crime. And I have weak ankles, so there you go") played by screenwriter Don McKellar in the role and film which launched his now prestigious career as actor and writer/director. It's a simple story, and the several plot strands are brought together in a scene near the end that is a real love it or hate it section of the film, apparently.

The film works in almost every regard- the mosaic-like, episodic nature of the narrative, the clever, witty dialogue and surreal situational dramedy which would become Don McKellar's biggest asset as writer, the immense soundtrack, even the direction by Bruce McDonald. "Roadkill" is, perhaps, my favorite ultra-low-budget film, simply because it's got an energy and verve that more than compensates for any flaws, and while it works brilliantly on its own terms, "Roadkill" is a conventionally flawed film, I suppose: there is some bad acting, and thanks to its non-existent budget and the fact that it was shot on 8mm, it doesn't look especially great. Still, one thing that struck me most on this latest viewing was how well-made the film is, all things considered. The editing works, even the potentially pretentious jump cuts, and there's some really good photography, especially considering the medium.

The most special thing about "Roadkill", perhaps, is that it isn't limited by the time or location it's set in, or when it was released. When I saw the film at age 18 at a screening populated mostly by people too young to have seen the film when it became a pre-Tarantino, pre-"Clerks" indie hit in 1989/1990, the enthusiasm the audience had for the film was palpable. There is an inspired energy about this film that makes even the superb screenplay seem insignificant in comparison to the conviction and enthusiasm the film was made with. When the film received a standing ovation at the end, it was out of sheer enthusiasm, and not out of polite respect.

The end result with this film is sure to be polarizing, and the humor probably won't work for a lot of people, but this is low budget gonzo film-making at its best, and to learn the whole story behind the film and the dubious methods of promotion those involved used (including getting the soundtrack on the Canadian charts by sneaking copies off record store shelves) one simply must listen to the commentary track on the DVD, which is easily as entertaining as the film itself, if not more. This is an essential piece of Canadian film, the birth of modern Canadian independent film-making, and in my estimation one of the most deserving winners of best Canadian film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The pseudo-sequel to this, "Highway 61", often feels like a pale imitation and has about a tenth of the charm, but it's still worth watching. The third film in McDonald's 'road trilogy', "Hard Core Logo" is nearly as good as "Roadkill" is, and more technically polished.